Rheumatoid Arthritis Support

• An increase in joint disorders (including arthritis, arthrosis and arthralgia).

• An increase in the incidence of osteoporosis and fractures (specifically fractures of spine, hip and wrist). A hip fracture often results in prolonged hospitalization and long term care in a post-menopausal woman.

• Hypercholesterolemia (especially without 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor)

Bisphosphonates are sometimes prescribed to prevent the osteoporosis induced by aromatase inhibitors but have another serious side effect, osteonecrosis of the jaws. Since statins have a bone strengthening effect , combining a statin with an aromatase inhibitor may avoid both fractures and possible cardiovascular risks without jaw osteonecrosis. In one study of women with breast cancer taking anastrozole, statin use was associated with a 38% reduced fracture risk, or approximately the equivalent of 10 mg Fosamax daily.


Adapted from the Wikipedia article Aromatase inhibitor, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki